Whether it’s a hard day at work or bad news on the television – if your first reaction is to down a bag of your favorite chips or to dig up some old candy in the bottom of your desk drawer – you may be a stress eater!
While it likely makes you feel awful, it’s actually a very common way for humans to deal with stress. (Don’t believe us? Rent a popular chick flick and watch as the friend of the girl who just got dumped grabs a pint of ice cream and two spoons!) Unfortunately, food and stress seem to be linked together. But why? Why do we go straight for our comfort foods as soon as something stressful happens?
Our bodies have developed a number of ways of dealing with stress. One key response is when your adrenal glands release cortisol, a hormone that can increase your appetite. This would all be well and good if we craved carrot sticks when we’re stressed out, but unfortunately we usually crave foods that are high in sugar and high in fat.
So, what can you do the next time the stress-munchies strike? Try taking a brief soak (15-20 minutes) in your hot tub!
Hot tubs are a great place to relax and help relieve your stress. Soaking in your hot tub can help balance your nerves and increase your dopamine levels. This will help you process all your feelings – and do a better job of it than that tub of mint chocolate chip. You’ll be saving your waistline and improving your health!
After your relaxing time in your hot tub, you will not only feel clearer-headed, but you’ll likely have a better night’s sleep, too! So, put down the cookies and chips and drown your stress in your hot tub next time you start feeling stressed out!